KHSAA recommends masks for softball players

The Kentucky High School Athletic Association’s Board of Control on Monday voted to recommend that first basemen, third basemen and pitchers playing softball wear protective face gear.

Though the Board did not vote to make face gear a requirement during its meeting at Northern Kentucky University, KHSAA commissioner Julian Tackett said it was important for schools to take advantage of the rule that allows for such protection.

“When you have really, really good players going against other really, really good players, you may not need a mask,” Tackett said. “It’s when you see the disparities between teams that have strong pitchers and hitters and you have kids crashing in from first or third and lunging in to pitch.”

Tackett said the KHSAA has been reviewing data about face gear for “a couple of years” and recently recommended to the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) that it make such protection a requirement. The NFHS voted not to require such equipment.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reported in May that East Jessamine softball coach Tom Hamm asked the KHSAA to require face masks after his daughter, Haylee, was struck in the face while pitching in April. The ball shattered the orbital floor of Haylee’s left eye and fractured her nose. She returned to pitch later in the season.

Tackett said part of the issue with requiring face masks is that research hasn’t determined the best protection.

“It’s early on in the life of masks worn by kids on the field,” he said. “It’s still being developed and shaped. … But because of the sheer number of facial injuries, it’s a good idea to point out to kids that they’re allowed to wear them by rule and that we recommend that they do that.”

Male coach Josh Bloomer said he was pleased with the outcome.

“For those kids who want to use it and it provides a measure of security, more power to them,” Bloomer said. “I have a player who wears a mask now, and I have no problem with it. But for some kids who don’t want to wear it and it might make them uncomfortable, I don’t feel it needs to be made a requirement.”

NFHS LIFTS BAN ON JEWELRYIN TRACK AND FIELD, CROSS COUNTRY

The NFHS voted Monday to lift its prohibition of wearing jewelry by track and field and cross country athletes.

“The wearing of jewelry ordinarily presents little risk of injury to either the competitor or opponents,” said Becky Oakes, NFHS director of sports and liaison to the Track and Field Rules Committee. “Elimination of the rule allows officials to focus on meet administration directly related to actual competition. Coaches continue to have the obligation to see that competitors are properly equipped.”

Jason Frakes can be reached at (502) 582-4046 and followed on Twitter @kyhighs.